Restoration ecology field trip, Naomi

Naomi's Reflection 

I personally felt that the restoration trip was something that was not only impact full on the area we were helping to restore but, on myself and hopefully my peers as well. The process, I learned, is an arduous one and there are copious ways in which one can help in restoration. My class and myself was given the opportunity to aid in both biological remediation, being using organisms to detoxify polluted ecosystems by removing harmful substances from said ecosystem, and biological augmentation, being using organisms to add essential materials to a degraded ecosystem.
The first was done by our physically removing invasive species such as thorn brush that is beginning to take over the endemic species of plants native to the area. Using various tools and brute strength powered only by the love to learn, it was down in the brush we went to do our part in spreading up ecosystem to get back into its natural state. The removal of the invasive species was pertinent to restoring the area as the invasive species is harmful to the native plants and inhibits their natural growth and contribution to the ecology in that area.
All our work down in the thorns and branches paid well as we managed to
clear a good section of the area which will help in the increased remediation of the ecology.
The trip also allowed us to participate in our share of biological augmentation. We were given acorns to plant around a field as well as buckets full of water to water budding trees in the surrounding area. We then scattered about and dug up as many new homes for possible future trees to inhabit. Though we were given a generous amount of acorns, not all will flourish which is why the great number of seedlings were planted, to ensure a higher rate would survive at the least.
Restoration ecology is so critical to the survival of species plant and animal alike. It impacts our daily lives as well. Species that begin to inhabit conflicting areas non-endemic to themselves disrupt the natural habitat and creatures native to that area much like the new Asian carp that is becoming problematic in the Great Lakes. Nature requires balance and when that balance is thrown it should be our responsibility to restore back to its natural state. Restoration ecology is an ongoing effort and as the field director informed us, it will require the efforts of multiple generations but the product is something worthwhile.